ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 21, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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I DO MANY THINGS FOR YOUR EU MEMBERSHIP
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer met with U.S. President George Bush in Prague on Wednesday. Bush who launches intensive initiatives for Turkey's European Union (EU) membership said for the first time ''I do many things for your membership to EU. Turkey's place is Europe. I told this to the leaders I negotiated. I received positive approaches from some of them.'' Bush did not mention the names of those leaders.
WE TOOK MORE LAND AS WE WOULD LEAVE SOME OF IT IN NEGOTIATIONS
Former President Kenan Evren who responded the questions of Mehmet Ali Birand in CNN Turk station said that they took land more than they had targeted in 1974 and they did not draw back as they will leave some of it in negotiations.
Evren said that Turkey gained a historical opportunity in the island with United Nations' (U.N.) Cyprus Plan and added that he did not have a tough view about land for the solution in Cyprus. He said that it is time for solution to the problem which has been continuing for 40 years in the island.
F1 IN ISTANBUL
Formula One Administration (FAO) chief executive Bernie Ecclestone chose Istanbul for Turkey leg of Formula-1 2005 races. Ecclestone will arrive in Turkey to sign the contract in the coming days. Istanbul, Izmir and Antalya cities competed for Formula 1. The Federation of Turkish Automobile and Motorsports (TOMSFED) stated that Ecclestone conveyed his decision to the federation on November 18.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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HEADSCARF IN PROTOCOL
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said participation of Munevver Arinc, his wife, to the protocol with her headscarf was not something abnormal.
Defending that he fulfilled the requirements of state protocol, Arinc said, ''I participated the seen off ceremony together with my wife while the president goes to abroad with his wife. We did what was normal. There is nothing to look for under it.''
Commenting on the statement of retired Gen. Omer Sarlak that he felt strange about it, Arinc said, ''in fact, there were many things to be said if I was not the Parliament Speaker. But I will not speak about it.''
HE IS ANGRY ABOUT TRANSLATION MISTAKE
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan got angry at a journalist who described AK Party as ''Islamist Party'' in Brussels. Erdogan apologized when it was revealed that the question was translated wrongly.
Erdogan proceeded to Belgium following his contacts in Britain and met Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. Erdogan said the meeting was positive.
Erdogan, who got angry at a foreign journalist who described AK Party as ''Islamist Party'', said, ''how long do you know us? AK Party had not said it is a religion axis party since its foundation. There can not be an Islamist party. Islam can not be stained. Islam is a religion, we are a party. We are conservative democrats. Some media organs with evil intention in the West try to show us like that.''
However, when Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said there was a translation mistake, and that the journalist did not describe them as Islamist Party, Erdogan apologized stating that the question was misunderstood.
When the same journalist asked whether or not they have a secret agenda, Erdogan said, ''secret agenda is out of question. Everything is clear and transparent.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PRESS FROM BUSH
U.S. President George Bush made press to 15 EU member countries with his message ''Give negotiation date to Turkey'' prior to critical NATO summit. Bush wanted EU countries be careful in Cyprus and Turkey issues and he said that if negotiation way is opened in Cyprus until December 12, Turkey will implement criteria easier and Cyprus question will easily be solved.
DIFFERENT PROTOCOL
Parliament speaker Bulent Arinc took part in the seen off ceremony which was held for President Ahmet Necdet Sezer prior to his departure for NATO summit with his headscarved wife Munevver Arinc. Thus, for the first time a headscarved mate of vice-president attended state protocol. A close source to Sezer stated that President did not give any reaction to that incident.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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RELIGIOUS PRAYER IN HILTON
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and some other Justice and Development (AK Party) parliamentarians performed namaz (religious prayer) in the lobby of the hotel although there was a special room to perform namaz.
This attitude of AK Party members was interpreted as efforts to show their strength.
This reminded the namaz of Necmettin Erbakan, conducted by Imams in some hotels, during the period of REFAHYOL coalition government.
AK PARTY DOES NOT FAVOR LIFTING OF POLITICAL IMMUNITY AS A WHOLE
Removal of political immunity of parliamentarians will constitute one of the most controversial items of the agenda of new legislation period.
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said they would make a democratic and pluralist bylaw, stressing that political immunity should be described well.
Arinc stressed that he did not find right removal of political immunity as a whole.
Statements of Arinc pointed out that a limited regulation would be made about the political immunity.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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WE DO NOT ESCAPE FROM NEGOTIATION
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that 'Annan Plan' can be negotiated and added that it is necessary to take positive steps to find a solution. Gul said that at first Turkey should be satisfied with its future as this question is related with Turkey.
ANNAN IS WORRIED ABOUT CYPRUS PLAN
United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan said that he had not received a response from Turkey about Cyprus Plan yet and added that he is worried about the future of the plan. Meanwhile, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) leader Rauf Denktas accused 'Annan Plan' of including subtle traps.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TURKEY LAUNCHES EU MOBILIZATION
Turkey is as if it launches mobilization for the European Union (EU). President Ahmet Necdet Sezer holds bilateral contacts in Prague where he visited to participate in NATO summit. Sezer met the U.S. President George Bush and some other presidents to get a date for Turkey's EU full membership.
London was another stop of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's tour covering the EU countries. Meanwhile, Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) holds contacts in Europe in the level of businessmen, and is getting ready to visit France.
When a journalist reminded Erdogan his statement that Cyprus, EU, and ESDP could be taken as a package and asked whether or not this meant an important policy change, Erdogan said, ''showing Cyprus, ESDP, and EU policies as not having connection was a wrong approach. It is impossible to see the facts. All the leaders we met brought this onto the agenda. There is not meaning in hiding our heads under the soil. Let us evaluate them as a package, but making mutual sacrifice.''
SEZER-BUSH DISCUSS EU AND IRAQ IN PRAGUE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer met the U.S. President George Bush in Prague where he visited to participate in NATO summit. Sezer called for support from Bush for Turkey's accession to the EU.
The two leaders exchanged views about NATO, international terrorism, Iraq, Cyprus and other issues.
Sezer called on support from Bush for Turkey's accession to the EU, and also noted that Turkey favored membership of Romania and Bulgaria to NATO.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN PROPOSES RADICAL ''SOLUTION PACKAGE'' FOR EU AND CYPRUS
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently on a tour to Europe, pointed out that Cyprus, European Union (EU) and European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) were in linked with each other and proposed those problems to be solved in a ''package''.
Erdogan, who continues contacts for the EU since there is a short time for Copenhagen Summit, brought a new ''opening'' to Ankara's approach.
Reliable diplomatic sources said Erdogan made this opening by consulting with the foreign ministry. It was stated that Erdogan made this proposal after British Prime Minister Tony Blair said, ''we are discussing date of negotiation, ESDP, and Cyprus. However, turn them into a package. Let us solve the problems and set you a date for consultations.''
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said Turkey would take steps on the way to the EU which will surprise Europe. Gul said, ''we did what we should do. Now it is the turn of the EU.''
CONFUSION BETWEEN TWO UNIONS RESULTS IN DEATH
Three-month argument between the two unions stemming from member transfer, ended with blood.
Three people died in the street fighting in Zeytinburnu district.
The tension, which started after 900 people from the southeast changed union and opened branches, escalated after two attacks on Monday.
Both unions defend that police did not take measures despite the escalating tension and the warnings.